Businessmen, educator, entrepreneur

Lesson 375 – Mechanics – Punctuation – Quotation Marks

If a quotation has more than one paragraph, use quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph and at the end of the last paragraph of the quotation.

Instructions: Use quotation marks where needed in these sentences.

1. This is one person’s quoted idea about happiness.

Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it.

Pleasure is often confused with happiness but is by no means synonymous with it. Pleasure, unlike happiness, is that which pleases us or gives us gratification. Usually it endures for only a short time.

We are enticed daily to pursue worldly pleasures that may divert us from the path to happiness. But the path to true happiness is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.

2. This is a quoted story about Ali Hafed.

Ali Hafed was a wealthy ancient Persian who owned much land and many productive fields, orchards, and gardens, and loaned money out at interest.

One day an old priest came to him and told him that if he had a diamond the size of his thumb, he could purchase a dozen farms like his. He told Ali Hafed where to find such a diamond.

Ali Hafed sold his farm, collected his money that was at interest, and left his family in the charge of a neighbor. He left in search of diamonds. After years of searching, his money was spent, and he passed away in rags and wretchedness.

The man who purchased Ali Hafed’s farm one day led his camel out into the garden to drink, and as the animal put his nose into the shallow waters, the farmer noticed a curious flash of light in the white sands of the stream. Reaching in, he pulled out a black stone which proved to be a diamond. This marked the discovery of the diamond mines of Golconda, the most valuable diamond mines in the history of the ancient world.

Had Ali Hafed remained at home and dug in his own cellar, or anywhere in his own fields, rather than traveling in strange lands where he eventually faced starvation and ruin, he would have had acres of diamonds.

–For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it.

“Pleasure is often confused with happiness but is by no means synonymous with it. Pleasure, unlike happiness, is that which pleases us or gives us gratification. Usually it endures for only a short time.

“We are enticed daily to pursue worldly pleasures that may divert us from the path to happiness. But the path to true happiness is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.”

2. “Ali Hafed was a wealthy ancient Persian who owned much land and many productive fields, orchards, and gardens, and loaned money out at interest.

“One day an old priest came to him and told him that if he had a diamond the size of his thumb, he could purchase a dozen farms like his. He told Ali Hafed where to find such a diamond.

“Ali Hafed sold his farm, collected his money that was at interest, and left his family in the charge of a neighbor. He left in search of diamonds. After years of searching, his money was spent, and he passed away in rags and wretchedness.

“The man who purchased Ali Hafed’s farm one day led his camel out into the garden to drink, and as the animal put his nose into the shallow waters, the farmer noticed a curious flash of light in the white sands of the stream. Reaching in, he pulled out a black stone which proved to be a diamond. This marked the discovery of the diamond mines of Golconda, the most valuable diamond mines in the history of the ancient world.

“Had Ali Hafed remained at home and dug in his own cellar, or anywhere in his own fields, rather than traveling in strange lands where he eventually faced starvation and ruin, he would have had acres of diamonds.”

I love parties but also life and teaching. I'm entrepreneurial and won the Laurette businessman of the year award in 2012 with my business which I sold to a VC. I'm working on my next education business now.